Easiest Way to Add To Your Workout Schedule

Austin, Texas: Not Enough Time in Your Day to Increase Your Workout Time?

Well, I have found that the simplest way to improve the amount of time you spend working out is to add just 10% to your workload.

Think about it. Adding 10% more time is not too much strain on your current schedule.

I now run for 66 minutes instead of 60. Seems like a pretty minor difference but that is like doing one extra workout every 10 days .

You can go from 20 minutes to 22 minutes or 30 minutes to 33 minutes-without sacrificing much on your schedule.

Try it.

Shoot for a 10% increase in your workout time each and every time you exercise and you will see dramatic changes.

10% more time at the gym, on the elliptical machine or treadmill.

You won’t notice the extra few minutes..but your body will.

Let me know how this 10% Rule works for you.

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Robert Piller is President of WellnessIncentivesPlus.com, a leading provider of custom-printed promotional items geared exclusively for wellness programs and wellness incentives. These branded gifts are ideal for wellness incentive rewards, wellness kickoff or announcement gifts or as wellness reminders.

How Do You Define “Wellness”?

Austin, Texas: There has been much debate on the true definition or meaning of the word “wellness” on LinkedIn and a few other sites I participate in recently.

Some define it as the absence of disease or sickness. Others define it as a state of being–including physical, spiritual, mental, social, etc.

If there is no consensus on its meaning” – then perhaps that is why so many wellness programs are doomed to failure from the start.

In my opinion, wellness is a goal that encompasses habits and behaviors, mind set, fitness, diet, and disease and injury.

I think of it in terms of a spectrum encompassing many things – not just one aspect.

If your wellness program is focusing on just sickness or fitness- it is missing the bigger picture.

Total wellness can never be achieved–it can just be strived for.

Focusing on just physical well-being may also fall short–as mental disease and positive mental thoughts are crucial in one’s wellness.

Behavior modification is also crucial. Forcing employees to quit smoking or to lose weight–without incentives and support in encouraging behavioral changes over a period of time will be futile.

People are creatures of habit and cannot effectively change behavior cold-turkey. It needs time, patience, support, coaching and incentive to happen for the long haul.

How does your company define wellness?

How do you define it?

How do your employees define it?

Look at your wellness program from a “total well-being” frame of reference..and then think about what else you can add to it.

What should be taken away from your current program?

How are you adding support, coaching and incentives to your goals?

Keep re-working your program – as total well-being should be continuously strived for.

Here’s to a healthier workforce!

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Robert Piller is President of WellnessIncentivesPlus.com, a leading provider of custom-printed promotional items geared exclusively for wellness programs and wellness incentives. These branded gifts are ideal for wellness incentive rewards, wellness kickoff or announcement gifts or as wellness reminders.

Austin, Texas: So, Mexico has now surpassed the United States as the most obese country in North America, according to a recent news article.

In fact, the study shows that exercise has edged up n the US–with 51.3 percent of women and 57.8 percent of men getting sufficient weekly exercise.

We should be proud of ourselves..or should we?

Unfortunately, obesity levels keep increasing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of US adults and 17 percent of children are obese.

What do you make in this disparity between improved exercise and increased obesity?

My guess is three-fold.

One, lying about exercise frequencies on the surveys.It is easy to tell your doctor and/or a survey that you are exercising more – but much harder to back it up with facts.

Two, not really doing the type of strenuous exercise that increases heart rate, improves endurance and sheds calories. And doing it for 20-30 minutes per day–consistently.

Three, poor diet. I have seen many people at the gym drink two bottles of Gatorade or go out to a fast food joint after their workouts. Yes, the did strenuous exercise, but they negated the health benefits.

My solution is increased and improved education and awareness.

Most people have a hard time undersanding caloric intake, propery dietary standards, etc.

However, simple charts showing the number of minutes on a treadmill to burn off those calories might make decision-making more intuitive.

If I have to jog for 45 minutes to burn off a soda, I might think twice about the risk/reward ratio.

Keep it simple.

Concentrate on this “minutes of exercise per meal” approach and we might see a quick and dramatic change in our obesity levels.

Here’s to a healthier today!

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Robert Piller is President of WellnessIncentivesPlus.com, a leading provider of custom-printed promotional items geared exclusively for wellness programs and wellness incentives. These branded gifts are ideal for wellness incentive rewards, wellness kickoff or announcement gifts or as wellness reminders.

Perception of Food Can be Tricky When Watching Your Calories

Austin, TX: I read this intriguing article in Medical Daily online that states that “researchers found no statistically significant difference between the two restaurants’ menus, and that participants ate too many calories at both.”

People apparently go into Subway shops and think they are getting a low-calorie and healthy meal– but many come away with more calories and sodium than they would have from a Big Mac.

Perception makes all the difference – and people continue to order less healthy menu selections at Subway–which can have more sodium than a McDonald’s menu item – and just as many calories.

There is certainly a “halo effect” that people think every item at Subway must be fresh and healthy–when, in reality, you still need to be careful with your meal selection– and snacks and beverage.

I am often shocked by the number of meatball subs and cold cut meals ordered when I go to Subway.

There is nothing “fresh and healthy” with a cold cut sub that gets extra salt and just a little bit of lettuce.

Subway does a good job of promoting calorie content– but not so good a job explaining the sodium levels in their meats.

Teach them to ask questions or do further research into what they are putting into their mouths.

“Calories consumed” is not the only magic number.

Hidden sugar, sodium and other killers are prevalent and people cannot just hide behind the “fresh” seal of approval.

How do you educate your employees on the dangers of sodium and sugary snacks and drinks?

Please share so I can include these ideas in upcoming blog posts.

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Robert Piller is President of WellnessIncentivesPlus.com, a leading provider of custom-printed promotional items geared exclusively for wellness programs and wellness incentives. These branded gifts are ideal for wellness incentive rewards, wellness kickoff or announcement gifts or as wellness reminders.

Austin, Texas: I just read about a new concept in the wellness world: Sweatworking.

I love the name and what it is all about–networking while working out and getting fit– at Zumba classes, at the gym, at a park, etc.

If your organization is promoting wellness, why not encourage and reward sweatworking activities.

Be pro-active in encouraging employees to meet, socialize and work out together.

Sponsor sweatworking activities in your area and your organization can be at the forefront of this craze– and attract like-minded healthy audiences– that can help show that your organization is a thought leader in wellness.

Position your company and help attract more health-conscious employees by getting involved in sweatworking “happy hours”.

Send all levels of management to these events, as well as other employees, to meet others and share best practices in wellness.

You can learn what other companies are doing in regard to fitness and wellness programs, and how they are getting their employees involved.

Networking in bars and hotels may not be going away any time soon, but sweatworking can be a fun way to meet and interact with the wellness community in your town.

Have you been involved with any sweatworking events?

I’d love to hear about them. Write me at the email below so we can feature you in an up-coming blog.

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Robert Piller is President of WellnessIncentivesPlus.com, a leading provider of custom-printed promotional items geared exclusively for wellness programs and wellness incentives. These branded gifts are ideal for wellness incentive rewards, wellness kickoff or announcement gifts or as wellness reminders. Visit WellnessIncentivesPlus.com to view thousands of wellness rewards and reminders in all price points-including over 800 different promotional pedometer styles in all price ranges.

Don’t Over-think Your Wellness Rewards!

Austin, Texas: I get many calls per week asking for ideas to help find the perfect gift or reward for a corporate wellness program.

So…what is the perfect wellness reward?

Well, it is simple.

The perfect wellness reward is a simple pat on the back.

That’s right!

It is a simple AND genuine pat on the back and acknowledgement from someone in management that they are doing a good job.

Preferably, this pat on the back will be made in front of a group of peers– making that recognition even more meaningful.

That’s it!

A simple “atta boy”!

“Way to go!”

“We’re proud of you!”

“Great job!”

Don’t over-think it.

You can have the greatest wellness rewards – and if there is no acknowledgement from senior members, the program will fade fast.

Let your employees know that you are proud of their initiative on their wellness goals.

Ask them how they achieved such success- and share it with others.

Be genuine.

Be empathetic.

Keep your wellness rewards simple and your wellness program will be extremely successful.

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Robert Piller is President of WellnessIncentivesPlus.com, a leading provider of custom-printed promotional items geared exclusively for wellness programs and wellness incentives. These branded gifts are ideal for wellness incentive rewards, wellness kickoff or announcement gifts or as wellness reminders. Visit WellnessIncentivesPlus.com to view thousands of wellness rewards and reminders in all price points-including over 800 different promotional pedometer styles in all price ranges.

The study, published in the Journal of Labor Research, suggests that regular exercise can have an impact on the productivity and well-being of an employee. “It is widely acknowledged that regular exercise has a beneficial impact on well-being. In addition to the positive impact on heart health, weight and on a variety of other medical issues, studies in the literature show that exercise leads to improved mental function, psychological condition and higher energy level, ” Kosteas notes.

He adds, “All three of these traits can be translated into higher earnings by increasing productivity. Besides the direct effect, exercise can have indirect positive impacts on labor market outcome by serving as a signal to potential employers that the individual is dedicated and disciplined.” Since the employer benefits from these attributes, Kosteas recommends that employers embrace sponsored exercise programs and gym memberships not only for the good of employees, but also for the bottom line.

Any firm that is not seriously promoting exercise and fitness programs are basically costing themselves money, according to this study.

Not only will you be saving money on your insurance premiums, but you will get more output from your employees, as well. Looks like a win-win.

Start a wellness program right away to maximize the impact you can have on your employees.

Robert Piller is President of WellnessIncentivesPlus.com, a leading provider of custom-printed promotional items geared exclusively for wellness programs and wellness incentives. These branded gifts are ideal for wellness incentive rewards, wellness kickoff or announcement gifts or as wellness reminders. Visit WellnessIncentivesPlus.com to view thousands of wellness rewards and reminders in all price points.